A Visit to the United States in 1841 eBook

mentioned, and had thereby done something material
in the progress of the work. It was only
to get a minute passed upon their books to the intended
effect. Accordingly, at the very first Monthly
Meeting of the Society, which took place in Philadelphia
in the present year, he proposed the subject.
He laid before them the concern which had been
so long upon his mind, relative to these unfortunate
people; he pressed upon them the duty of allowing
them as frequently as possible to attend their
Meetings for worship, and the benefit that would
accrue to both, by the instruction of them in
the principles of the Christian religion. The
result was, that a Meeting was appointed more
particularly for the negroes, once every month;
so that besides the common opportunities they
had of collecting religious knowledge, by frequenting
the places of worship, there was one day in the month,
in which, as far as the influence of the Monthly Meeting
extended, they could neither be temporally nor
spiritually overlooked. At this Meeting also,
he proposed means, which were acceded to, for
a more frequent intercourse between Friends and the
Indians; he (William Penn,) taking upon himself the
charge of procuring interpreters, as well as of
forwarding the means proposed.”—­Vol.
II. pp. 218-222.

APPENDIX C. P. 34.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS,
HELD IN
PHILADELPHIA, APPOINTED FOR THE GRADUAL CIVILIZATION,
&C., OF THE INDIAN
NATIVES, PRESENTED TO THE MEETING, FOURTH MONTH 21ST,
1841, AND DIRECTED
TO BE PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE MEMBERS.

“TO THE YEARLY MEETING.

“The Committee charged
with promoting the Gradual Improvement
and Civilization of the Indian
Natives, report:—­

“That although they have given
attention to this interesting concern, there are
but few subjects in their operations, since the
last report, which require notice. The Indians
have been in a very unsettled condition during
the past year, in consequence of the embarrassment
and distress produced by the ratification of the
treaty, and their uncertainty as to the best course
to be pursued by them in their trying and perplexing
circumstances. They still cling to the hope
that they shall be able to ward off the calamity
which threatens them, either through the favorable
disposition of the new Administration and Senate,
to give their case a re-hearing, or by an Appeal
to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Small as the hope afforded by these sources may appear
to a disinterested observer, they are buoyed up by
it, and seem as unwilling as ever, to look toward
relinquishing their present homes.

“In a communication addressed
to the committee, dated Tunesassah, Fifth Month
24th, 1840, signed by ten chiefs, they say, ’Although,
the information of the ratification of the treaty
is distressing to us, yet it is a satisfaction to hear